Do you think that “Dow Jones” must be some hip new clothing line? Does the term “CD” make you wonder when the next album from Adele is scheduled to drop? You don’t have to be an active player in the stock market, but you should have a basic understanding of how money works. Financially successful people are financially literate. They can differentiate margin calls from a call from that certain someone and know precisely when selling short is in their financial interest. 

Working a second job puts more money in your pocket, but depending on your circumstance, those additional earnings may come at a high cost. Many employers frown on their employees holding down multiple jobs. Others have outright banned the practice.

In brief, personal loans can be an effective way to build credit. The catch is you only can qualify for reasonable rates when you already have good credit. If you have poor credit or no credit at all, you will probably only qualify for loans with high rates and expensive fees. Here is a list of the best personal loans currently available. In such a case, you should probably consider other credit building methods. This article will explain how personal loans can help and what alternatives you should also consider.

If you’ve ever filled out a loan application, you might have wondered if it was written in a foreign language. Many of the individual phrases look like English, but the document as a whole is about as easy to understand as a Swahili auctioneer. Even words you thought you knew have an entirely new meaning.

When The Ides of March sang, “I’m your vehicle; I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” they were definitely not referring to YOUR car, which really doesn’t take you much of anywhere anymore. All indications point to the urgent need for a replacement set of wheels so that you can put your old clunker – that spends more time in the shop than it spends on the road – out of its misery. Sound familiar?

The end of the year is such a hectic time, with holiday shopping, family get-togethers, parties and other festive occasions. Thinking about money hardly seems in tune with the season. But the end of the year is precisely the right time to map out financial strategies for the coming year.  Following these 10 tips can help make 2016 your most prosperous year ever. Now that’s really something to celebrate!

You may be preoccupied with getting the right gifts for everyone on your holiday gift list or what to wear to that big holiday party – but you should also be thinking about how to tune up your finances. And although April 15 may be months away, there are strategies you should be executing now to reduce your tax bite when you file your return. Yes, now. If you wait until the new year, many of these strategies will no longer be available to you – at least until the end of next year.

Saving money on the things you really want is incredible. One of the best ways to score significant discounts is through so-called member-only shopping merchants and warehouse clubs. But determining which organization(s) to join varies by several factors, not least of which is the type of merchandise you usually buy. These 10 member-only outlets can help you rack up significant savings on stuff you were planning to buy anyway.

Are you itching to purchase your own home? You could do far worse than any of the 10 booming metro areas listed (in no particular order) below. Whether you aspire to be a movie star, love country music, are avid about outdoor winter sports or simply crave year-round sunshine and warm temps, there is at least one city on this list that should appeal to you. Many of these hot real estate markets are also fueled by rapid job growth, improving your odds of being able to make a living in your new surroundings.

Back in the day, you may vaguely remember your parents throwing a mortgage-burning party to celebrate finally owning their home free and clear. Now you’re a homeowner, but you’re a long way from burning your mortgage. You’re considering refinancing your mortgage, but you’re wondering if this is the right time to do so.